The JJ Kavanagh & Sons senior football title in Kilkenny is going to Mullinavat again this year as they put Tullogher to the sword in Dunmore on Sunday.
It’s back-to-back wins for the south Kilkenny side who will be looking to repeat the same feat in the championship having reclaimed their title from Thomastown last season before progressing through the early rounds of the Leinster championship. Goals from Tom Aylward and James Culleton (penalty) proved pivotal as Mullinavat edged Tullogher 2-7 to 0-10 in a fairly evenly contested fixture at the MW Hire training centre, having been level 1-2 to 0-5 at half-time.
Both Ian Duggan (0-5) and Cian O’Donoghue (0-07, five from frees) were in good kicking form for both sides but in the end, it’s Mullinavat who take top honours this season. Tullogher had come through their group A campaign with three wins from four to take the automatic final spot while Mullinavat beat Mooncoin 1-14 to 1-9 in the semi-finals a fortnight ago to set up Sunday’s showdown.
Senior action takes a break over the Easter weekend before moving into the preliminary championship rounds / relegation semi-finals on Friday 14 April with Danesfort set to take on Kilmoganny at 7.30pm. The other relegation semi-final sees Thomastown host Muckalee on Saturday afternoon (15th) at 4pm.
Teams & Scorers
Mullinavat: Mark McNamara, Mikey Jones (0-1), Joe Fennelly, Ian Mansfield, Simon Aylward (captain), Shane Kelly, Darren Kenneally, Tom Aylward 1-0), Ger Malone, Conor Duggan, James Culleton (1-0, peno), Ian Duggan (0-5, free), Fiachra Knox, Liam Fennelly (0-1), Sean Fitzpatrick. Subs: Michael Walsh for Conor Duggan, Conor Power for Sean Fitzpatrick.
Tullogher/Rosbercon: Eoin Ryan, Lar Murphy, Sean Murray, Niall O’Shea, Jamie Lyng, Jason Shiely (captain), Tarek O’Connor, Pat Hartley, Donnacha O’Connor (0-1), Cian O’Donoghue (0-7, 5 frees), Conor Hennessy, Michael Handrick, Niall Mooney (0-1), Danny Glennon (0-1), Cathal Mooney.
Additional information Mullinavat GAA/Facebook.
